Which Wear OS 3 watches can connect to iOS?
The Fossil Gen 6 series, which received the Wear OS 3 update in October, is compatible with the iPhone, though its functionality may be limited compared to an Apple Watch. The same applies to the Montblanc Summit 3 luxury watch, and will likely apply to eligible Mobvoi TicWatches once they receive Wear OS 3.
But Samsung and Google watches aren’t compatible with iOS, and probably never will be.
Is it worth buying a Wear OS watch for your iPhone?
Before Wear OS 3, many Wear OS 2 watches were compatible with iOS, including the Galaxy Watch 3. Brands like Mobvoi and Fossil still have their own iOS apps, while the Wear OS by Google app offers a more widespread option to connect a android clock. to an iPhone.
At the moment, the Wear OS watches below work with iOS or, in the case of Mobvoi watches like the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra, probably should once they get the promised Wear OS 3 update, since their current software is compatible with iOS:
- Fossil Gen 6 (including Wellness Edition)
- Michael Kors Gen 6
- Skagen Falster Gen 6
- Montblanc Summit 3
- TicWatch Pro 3 GPS/LTE*
- TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra*
- Tick E3 Clock*
In theory, the benefit of picking up the Fossil Gen 6, for example, would be that you get a sleeker, more affordable alternative to the Apple Watch that gives you the same iOS notifications. The question is, should you?
However, longtime Android users are understandably leery, because Wear OS watches had a notorious problem of frequently disconnecting from iPhones, requiring you to resync them repeatedly. Fortunately, some Redditors who use Fossil (opens in a new tab) have reported this to be a minor issue with their Fossil watches running Wear OS 3, as long as you never close the Fossil app in your recent apps.
Still, it’s an undeniable fact that Apple deliberately reserves many iPhone-to-watch features for the Apple Watch, which is why the Galaxy Watch 5 and Pixel Watch don’t work with iPhones. samsung and google could have enabled this, but probably felt it wasn’t worth the effort if their clocks were too limited, which would only bias iPhone users against them.
At the same time, Google and Samsung have their own unique Android watch features that Fossil can’t access yet. The highlight is that Wear OS watches do not have access to the Google Assistant. Google told us that “they are taking the time to ensure [their] applications and services provide a quality experience.
Getting access to the Google Assistant would be a compelling reason to choose an Android watch over the Apple Watch if you’re not interested in using Siri on a daily basis. Without it, you can use the Alexa assistant, or just agree to use your watch for relatively limited tasks, like checking notifications (but not responding to them) or completing tracked workouts.
Ultimately, Wear OS 3 on iOS is likely to prove to be a better experience than Wear OS 2 in the long run, but you’ll have to pick smaller Android watch brands as it seems Google and Samsung have gone all-in on the Android phone. . experience instead.
Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition
An attractive iOS alternative
Our Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition reviewer said that if “you’re an iPhone user considering something other than an Apple Watch,” you should consider buying this watch. You get a sleek stainless-steel design, no-frills fitness software, and ridiculously fast charging for much less than an Apple Watch.
